South Pinellas County Chapter - About Our Chapter

Four page newsletter: Member Newsletter October 2004

Four page newsletter: Member Newsletter October 2004

South Pinellas County Chapter Election Newsletter

Local Chapter Board Election

The election of the South Pinellas County Chapter Board will occur Sunday November 21, 2004 at your local Lutheran Church. Each Congregational Coordiantor will provide specific details of where and when the election will be held. The lateness of this years election is due to the hurricanes that have ravaged our state. If you do not have a current membership at a local lutheran church here is a list of local congregations in our chapter:
Bay Pines Lutheran Church, 7589 113th Ln, Seminole, FL 01601 WELS
Christ Lutheran Church, 3451 30th Ave N, Saint Petersburg, FL 01708 ELCA
Christ the King Lutheran Church, 11220 Oakhurst Rd, Largo, FL 01602 LCMS
Faith Lutheran Church, 2601 49th St N, Saint Petersburg, FL 01710 WELS
Garden Of Peace Lutheran Church, 6161 22nd Ave N, Saint Petersburg, FL 01711ELCA
Grace Lutheran Church, 4301 16th St N, Saint Petersburg, FL 01712 LCMS
Holy Comforter Lutheran Church, 10255 Paradise Blvd, Treasure Island, FL 01738 ELCA
Hope Lutheran Church, 1801 62nd Ave N, Saint Petersburg, FL 01707 ELCA
Latvian Ev Lutheran Church, 2862 Weathersfield Ct, Clearwater, FL 24480
Lutheran Church of the Cross, 4545 Chancellor St NE, Saint Petersburg, FL 01709 ELCA
Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 10891 102nd Ave, Seminole, FL 01603 ELCA
Our Savior Lutheran Church, 301 58th St S, Saint Petersburg, FL 01713 LCMS
Prince Of Peace Lutheran Church, 455 Missouri Ave N, Largo, FL 01604 ELCA
Redeemer Lutheran Church, 401 5th St N, Saint Petersburg, FL 01714 ELCA
Rogate Lutheran Church, 4825 E Bay Dr, Clearwater, FL 01513 LCMS
St Andrew Lutheran Church, 1901 62nd Ave S, Saint Petersburg, FL 01715 ELCA
Trinity Lutheran Church, 401 5th St N, Saint Petersburg, FL 01716 ELCA

National Board of Directors Election By Mail This Year

Your organization - your vote - now easier than ever before"

If you're a benefit member* of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, you have a unique opportunity --you are able to select who serves on the national board of directors for a Fortune 500 organization. And this year, voting is becoming easier! The Winter 2004 issue of Thrivent magazine will include ballots for all benefit members living in a household. (Households with more than four benefit members may receive a separate mailing with additional ballots.)
Watch your mailbox in October for the Winter edition of Thrivent magazine. Take a few minutes to review the voting materials and cast your vote. Voting for our board has never been easier!
* Benefit members are generally members age 16 or older who own an insurance or annuity product from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and have applied for and been accepted for membership in accordance with the membership eligibility rules of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.

How Can I Join a Chapter Board?

South Pinellas County Chapter Board always is looking for new partners. Come visit our monthly meeting and get to know us. We meet the 2nd Thursday of the month. Call Rita Sewell for details 727-521-3854 or E-mail jsewell51@aol.com
Did you know that as a member of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, you are a part of one of 1,378 groups, or chapters, of Thrivent Financial members?
The chapter system provides opportunities for members to "make a difference" by helping others through fund-raising or service activities. It also is an integral part of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans' mission and vision because it helps maximize the good that we do for others.
As chapter members, we help fulfill the "caring for others" portion of Thrivent Financial's mission: "Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is a faith-based membership organization called to improve the quality of life of its members, their families, and their communities by providing unparalleled solutions that focus on financial security, wellness, and caring for others."
In addition, we have the opportunity to play an important role in Thrivent Financial's vision: "Our vision is to be the organization that Lutherans, Lutheran congregations and Lutheran institutions seek first when pursuing their financial goals. More than creating financial solutions, we add the unique capability of enabling Lutherans to demonstrate their care and concern for others."
Through use of our chapter Care programs, we are able to "demonstrate care and concern for others."

One Million Hugs and Kisses

Everyone who has played some part in all the wonderful activities of 2004 deserves 1 million hugs and kisses. The love of Jesus has been shining in so many ways this year. If you do not believe that we can make a difference then ask the folks at, Kimberly Home, The Haven, Alpha House, CROP Walk /Church World Services, Neighborly Senior Services, Folks serving in Afghanistan, Woodlands Camp, LOMF, Liberan Refugees,Stepping Stones, K. Clasen,The Cystic Fibrisis Foundation Lutheran Apartments and many more.

Hurricane Disaster Response

Disaster Response.......Hurricane Survivors Need Your Help

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is issuing a challenge to our members: Raise $4 million to assist those who survived the recent hurricanes, and we'll add $2 million in additional support.
The need is great. Many in the southeast find themselves without jobs. Millions of homes and churches have been damaged or destroyed, and lengthy power outages caused food to spoil and become unusable

Here's how you can help:
Service teams could organize a fund-raiser, involving members from at least six member households. Report the activity results as a locally supported activity in the Chapter Leadership Administration area, and deposit funds raised into the chapter's checking account. Monies can be directed via two different challenge grants, 1) The "Florida Hurricanes" challenge to help survivors in Florida or 2) The "2004 Hurricanes Response" challenge to help survivors in the other states affected by the hurricanes.

To direct funds to Florida survivors:
Funds raised should be reported in Chapter Leadership Administration as a locally supported fund-raising activity with "Florida Hurricanes" as the focus area. Write one check for the full amount of funds raised made payable to the chapter. Funds raised should be deposited into your chapter checking account. A check then should be sent from the chapter to Lutheran Services Florida. Only those funds sent to Lutheran Services Florida are eligible for the supplemental funding. Thrivent Financial will send the supplemental dollars to Lutheran Services Florida.

To direct funds to hurricane survivors in other states:
Funds raised should be reported in Chapter Leadership Administration as a locally supported fund-raising activity with "2004 Hurricanes - Excluding Florida" as the focus area. If donors at the fund-raiser want to write a check, please have them make it payable to the chapter. Funds raised should be deposited into your chapter checking account. A check then should be sent from the chapter to Lutheran Disaster Response. Thrivent Financial will send the supplemental grant dollars to Lutheran Disaster Response.

If donors at the fundraiser want to write a check, please have them make it payable to the chapter so it can be deposited into the chapter's checking account and included in the amount the chapter sends to either Lutheran Services Florida or Lutheran Disaster Response. It is permissible for chapters to conduct one fund-raising activity and divide the funds raised between the two challenges in whatever proportion they choose. They would report two separate activities, also splitting volunteer hours and expenses in the same proportion.
More information: You can get more details about the challenge grants and how you can respond on the Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Web site. Resources that can be found online include frequently asked questions and a step-by-step guide for conducting activities, reporting results and distributing funds.
We know you're up to the challenge. Let's help 2004 hurricane survivors together!

Your Current Chapter Board

President Rita Morris Sewell
1031 76th Ave N
Saint Petersburg, FL 33702-5115
(727) 521-3854
jsewell51@aol.com

Vice President Lois V Kabelitz
10559 42nd Ct N
Clearwater, FL 33762-5403
(727) 572-0271

Records Director Kelley S Grubbs
937 Snell Isle Blvd NE
Saint Petersburg, FL 33704-3829
(727) 896-4825
KelleyGrubbs@tampabay.rr.com

Financial Director David M Crowder
5635 46th Ave N
Kenneth City, FL 33709-3603
(727) 541-4903
kcdc2000@msn.com

Congregational Service Team Director Martin V Hougaard
13542 87th Ave
Seminole, FL 33776-2621
(727) 391-3726
martinsnny@juno.com

Assistant Financial Director Andris Ivars Ritums
2862 Weathersfield Ct
Clearwater, FL 33761-3012
(727) 797-1933
am2lat@earthlink.com

Community Service Team Director Vacant
Communications Director Vacant
Events Director Vacant
Youth Director Vacant

Appointed Leaders
Susan Phipps
1240 15th Ave N
Saint Petersburg, FL 33704-4122
(727) 821-2974
phipps_susan@hotmail.com
Special Advisor Dorothy J Metz
550 1st Ave S Apt 410
Saint Petersburg, FL 33701-4128
(727) 821-3113